1975 Grand National

H

HawkWing

At the Start
Joined
Mar 17, 2009
Messages
1,891
On reading Graham Bradley's thread further down, I watched SunyBay's second to Earth Summit and started flicking around on Youtube watching old Nationals.

Can I ask a question? Is L'escargot's win in 1975, the greatest national performance of modern times. He certainly hammered the greatest national horse of modern times, and was pulling double turning in. Pressed the button after the last and won easy by 15l. AGED 12. I have seen coverage of most nationals but for some reason this was missed in old VHS that I have on the National. It is the first time in a long time that an old performance made my jaw-drop. Why inst this more celebrated? A performance like that would have had to make him a Gold Cup candidate that year? Yes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9cnwrCtXnc

Instead of asking this on the graham bradley thread, I started a new one.
 
Wasn't Red Rum giving him weight that year ? Yes 11lb so no - and L'escargot has been unplaced in his three previous runs
 
Last edited:
HawkWing said:
On reading Graham Bradley's thread further down, I watched SunyBay's second to Earth Summit and started flicking around on Youtube watching old Nationals.

Can I ask a question? Is L'escargot's win in 1975, the greatest national performance of modern times. He certainly hammered the greatest national horse of modern times, and was pulling double turning in. Pressed the button after the last and won easy by 15l. AGED 12. I have seen coverage of most nationals but for some reason this was missed in old VHS that I have on the National. It is the first time in a long time that an old performance made my jaw-drop. Why inst this more celebrated? A performance like that would have had to make him a Gold Cup candidate that year? Yes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9cnwrCtXnc

Instead of asking this on the graham bradley thread, I started a new one.
Click to expand...

Red Rum carrying 12st the year before and beating (giving him 1lbs) L'escargot seven lengths was better.
 
L'escargot's GN was the first that I watched.
Answer is probably one of the best though he made a horrid mistake at The Foinavon fence first time around.
As a horse he was the only horse to be in the first two in the betting for Champion Hurdle, Gold Cup and Grand National in his career.
He ran at every Cheltenham festival from 1968 to 1975.
Red Rum's win in 1974 off 12 stone was probably a finer performance at Aintree but The Snail was something very very special.
Grey wrote a song about that 1975 GN.
Hopefully he will allow Mark Boylan record it !
 
Yep probably true about 1974. He was also a long way back in 1973.

Too young to remember if maybe he was specifically targetted at the Grand National as he got older. Certainly dont think 11lbs would have stopped him in 1975. Certainly have only seen a few horses travelling as well turning in, and it was Red Rum that was upsides. Conditions may have suited him more than Red Rum that year.
 
L'Escargot was having his fourth run in the race at the age of 12, having fallen at the 3rd fence on his debut in 1972 then finishing third in 1973 and second in 1974. He was very much in the wily veteran category by then and sported a pair of blinkers to overcome a growing tendency to save a bit for himself. The handicapper had also shown some mercy and instead of being required to carry top weight he was receiving 11lbs from Red Rum, already a dual winner of the race and seeking a hat trick.

He won the 1970 and 1971 editions of the Gold Cup and it wasn't until Best Mate more than twenty years later that another horse won the race more than once.

L'Escargot was only the second horse to win both the Gold Cup and the National since the amazing Golden Miller had won five Gold Cups and a National in the 1930s. It hasn't been done since, even if increased prize money, easier fences and sympathetic handicapping make it more likely.
 
Indeed he was.
Raymond Guest wanted to win race since Larkspur won Derby in 1962.
Had his first runner in 1964 race (or thereabouts)
Horse had not won a race since 1971 or 1972 but ran in race in 1972/ 3/4/5.
Brought down in 72, got beaten short head in Grand Sefton that November and went from there; 3rd in73, 2nd in 74 and finally his win.
He was placed in 2 Irish Grand Nationals 71 with 12/7 and 74 with 10/11.
Also placed in 2 Kerry Nationals !
 
1975 was the year new owner Davies tripled admission prices to Aintree and only a few thousand went. There were probably more people watching the race at the Curragh that day, where I happened to be.

Here is the song, Eddie, written in not always sincere imitation of the traditional sporting ballad.

To see the horse races I ventured one day,
I set out from Kingsbridge on the public railway
To the Curragh so bare in the County Kildare
With anticipation and money to spare

But I wagered it wildly, my wallet 'twas bare
I could not e'en afford the return railway fare
My heart it was broke, not e'en a good joke
Would light up the depths of my gloom and despair

Now on the same day in the other country
At the great racecourse renowned as Aintree
The English Grand National was due to take place
And 'twas many the long day since Ireland won the race

Running for England was a formidable foe
Red Rum had won two years in a row
And running for Ireland was an equine hero
I'm speaking for certain of the bold L'Escargot

Now the Curragh patrons this race wanted to see
So they reacted most positively
"Ladies and gents, we're pleased to tell ye
We're now the proud owners of a colour tv"

Off the field sped down to the first jump
Some of them fell with a sickening thump
Red Rum was handy in tenth place or so
But leading them all was the bold L'Escargot

"Begod" says Tom Carberry "we can win this with ease"
But up spoke L'Escargot "Not so fast please
There's more than four miles, and a very long straight
And to tell you the truth you're a bleddy ton weight"

Now Tom Carberry got angry "Less of your lip.
You are forgetting I carry a whip
That Red Rum's a champion, if we want the prize
You'll have to run till the sweat fills your eyes"

On down to Becher's, the crowd says "Here Goes"
Up L'Escargot flew, up L'Escargot rose
Ah damn it to hell, he's down on his nose,
How he's kept going there's nobody knows

"Begod" says Tom Carberry, "you gave me a fright".
"Ah less of your moaning, all day and all night.
Those fences aren't cardboard and they're of a great height,
if we're to get round just sit back and stay quiet".

On past the grandstands, there's a circuit to run
The crowd are excited, enjoying the fun
L'Escargot is leading, he's had a good run
But onto his shoulder moves the hardy Red Rum

(in a Lancashire accent)
"Well hello there Paddy, or is it Seamus or Mick?
I'll be expecting your head's a bit thick
Been out on the Guinness, been out on the town?
This race is just starting, I'll soon make you frown"

Without further waiting, Red Rum moves clear
The others are struggling, they're stuck in one gear
"Never mind" says Tom Carberry "you should remain of good cheer.
You've had a good run and you'll do better next year"

"Eh, please, Mr Carberry, I think we should talk
At coming back here, I will surely baulk
I'll make one final effort, throw one final fling
But tell them retire me when we're back in the ring"

"Fair enough" says Tom Carberry "that seems a fair deal,
But we'll have to get moving if we're victory to steal"
L'Escargot starts flying, he's moving so fast,
That he's upsides Red Rum as they come to the last

Over the last fence L'Escargot does soar
As he glides to the post, the crowd starts to roar,
For L'Escargot, Tom Carberry and trainer Dan Moore
Only one horse won Cup and National before
Click to expand...
 
Sorry if I upset anyone but I have never seen a horse travel so well between 4 out and 2 out in a Grand National. Watching it again - from 9m30s to 10m30s - it the link is something I haven't seen before.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9cnwrCtXnc#t=558

Spanish Steps and The Dikler were hardly mugs either in third and fourth. Longer legacies than Ten Up and Soothsayer from the Gold Cup. Bula I suppose was unlucky with the ground. I digress.
 
I was a seven year old in 1973 and L'Escargot was my first bet in the race, I backed him again in 74 and 75. My subsequent passion for racing may be credited to, or blamed upon L'Escargot.
 
Last edited:
Richard Dunwoody as a boy backed him in a bumper in one of the NI tracks when he was beaten; it put him off punting for life !
Ben Hanbury ( Midway Lady fame) rode him to his bumper win.
Amazing he only won 14 races given the quality of races he won and the length of time he was racing.
You upset no one Hawk Wing: we are having a ball reminiscing !
 
HawkWing said:
Sorry if I upset anyone but I have never seen a horse travel so well between 4 out and 2 out in a Grand National. Watching it again - from 9m30s to 10m30s - it the link is something I haven't seen before.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9cnwrCtXnc#t=558

Spanish Steps and The Dikler were hardly mugs either in third and fourth. Longer legacies than Ten Up and Soothsayer from the Gold Cup. Bula I suppose was unlucky with the ground. I digress.
Click to expand...

Wasn't Captain Christy injured and then came back and just failed to carry a welter burden in the Whitbread. He was the king of the mid 1970s chasers IMO once Pendil didn't come back
 
Thanks Ardross, I had been looking for that for a long time. I had heard the radio commentary of the race. Would love to see it in full.
 
Ardross said:
Wasn't Captain Christy injured and then came back and just failed to carry a welter burden in the Whitbread. He was the king of the mid 1970s chasers IMO once Pendil didn't come back
Click to expand...

Not quite.
He was pulled up in 75 Gold Cup on horrible going and won at Naas shortly after before running April The Seventh to 3/4 length giving 28 lb in Whitbread, claimer Steve Knight riding the winner who went on to win 75 Hennessy off 11-1 and finish 4th in 77 Gold Cup.
Captain got injured in spring of 76 after that KG rout.
You would enjoy the book "When Bobby Met Christy " by Declan Colley (?) currently selling for 3 Euro in Porters.
Alas it does not list his races and is repetitive.
 
Last edited:
Bob Turnell horse April Seventh ?

I knew CC was injured one spring just as it seemed the world was at his feet. His 1974 KG spanking of Pendil is pretty amazing too - home straight also available on YT.
 
I've felt for a long time that L'Escargot is one of the most underrated horses in racing, even thought the going was very much against Red Rum in 1975. I'm sure that Brian Fletcher said that, had Tommy Stack gone on in 1976 when he told him to, Red Rum would have won that year as well.
 
A joy to watch this again even though my 10p was on RR, and how good did he look in the parade ring, but looked like L'E was absolutely cruising and about 7/8 fences out jockey looks like he is taking a pull?
 
Correct on both counts Ardross.
Fletcher rode Eyecatcher 3rd in 76 and 77 and I remember T Stack saying after 76 GN that BF was near him all the way around but never said a word to him.
Remember Red Rum won Scottish GN 1 week after 74 GN off top weight showing no ill effects. Also just pipped in 73 Hennessy by Red Candle.
 
Back
Top